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The African Network Information Centre (AfriNIC) and the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) have signed a memorandum of understanding on this day, 24th August 2011, at the Hyatt Regency Kilimanjaro Hotel in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, during the 6th Connecting Rural Africa Forum. The MoU has been signed by Mr. Adiel Akplogan, CEO of AfriNIC and Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, CEO of the CTO.

The MoU establishes a general framework for bilateral cooperation between AfriNIC and the CTO with the aim of improving collaboration on various actions towards promoting ICTs and its role in development through joint research, training and capacity building on matters of high importance, such as IPv6.

This initiative has been concretised in line with the common aims and goals of AfriNIC and the CTO considering the benefits that may accrue to their stakeholders as a result of the synergies realized through this collaboration. “I believe this to be a watershed moment when two entities, both engaged in the promotion of ICTs for broader development, come together to cement an alliance with the aim of delivering greater value to their common stakeholders. The CTO very much looks forward to working with AfriNIC to build the capacity to leverage the innovations in the internet by a range of stakeholders”, said Mr. Bashir Patel, Chief Operating Officer at the CTO.

Through this MoU AfriNIC and the CTO will collaborate on events and conferences to enhance the dissemination of important messages. It will also create a platform to share knowledge and develop further partnerships. For AfriNIC’s CEO, Adiel Akplogan: "This is a very important milestone in our mission at AfriNIC to actively contribute into Individual and Institutional capacity building on Internet Business in our service region. Internet is not just a communication tool anymore it is an economical tool that has its own practices and rules. In Africa we have no choice but to adapt our environment to it. Building a sustainable synergy among players and stakeholders is the only way we can successfully drive the change for a brighter socio-economical future. I'm sure that engaging AfriNIC and the CTO on this shared mission will make a difference”.

The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation is an international organisation in which Commonwealth and non­Commonwealth governments, business organisations and civil society organisations are and can become members, which among other things provides assistance to members in enabling information and communication technologies (ICT) for development in order to achieve social and economic development by bridging the digital divide and by delivering to developing countries unique knowledge­sharing programmes in the areas of telecommunications, IT, broadcasting and the Internet.

AfriNIC has been set up to serve the African community by providing professional and efficient management of Internet Number Resources, supporting Internet technology usage and development, and promoting a participative and multi-stakeholder approach to Internet self governance.

For more details about the CTO MOU, please contact Babusha Radhakissoon, PR Officer at AfriNIC or you send her an email on press[at]afrinic.net

Note to Editors:

The African Network Information Center (AfriNIC) is the Regional Internet Registry (RIR) for Africa, responsible for the distribution and management of Internet number resources throughout the African region. AfriNIC is a non-government, not-for-profit, membership based organization, based in Mauritius that serves the African Internet Community.